Our gut microbiome ‘"has enormous implications for the sense of self,’’ Tom Insel, the director of the National Institute of Mental Health, said. ‘‘We are, at least from the standpoint of DNA, more microbial than human." Increasingly, we are recognizing how much we are an expression of our gut health. Here are three steps to consider if you are serious about healing your gut naturally.

Unlike the circulatory system, the lymphatic system does not have its own pump, so make sure to give it extra support to move things alone. Along with the herbal supplement, mechanical encouragement is essential for the lymphatic system: lymphatic massage, dry brushing, large movement with legs and arms to squeeze lymph nodes through movement, and shaking your body or making bouncy, quaking movements and smooth, internal "groovy" movements.

Step 2. Support your gut function with a temporary change in diet and a daily dose of bone broth.

There are many variations of this anti-inflammatory diet, but most eliminate grains, dairy, and legumes to allow your gut to heal. Add daily bone broth to your diet.

However, if you have a medical condition like autoimmunity, you are better off following more specific guidelines from Dr. Amy Myers or acupuncturist Chris Kresser.

Step 3. After at least 2 weeks on the temporary diet, add a daily dose of a Bieler's broth, a balancing cleansing broth.

Dr. Henry Bieler was a medical doctor and a proponent of healing with foods. I often recommend his green healing broth as a supplement or 1-4 day cleanse.